August 14 – Probably the worst kept secret of the USL, the second-tier of professional leagues in the US, has become official. Las Vegas will have a team playing in the 2018 competition.
August 11 –United Soccer League, the second tier of US professional football, has announced two new clubs in Birmingham, Alabama, and Austin, Texas, who will being playing in the 2019 season.
August 10 – Mexico’s national team captain Rafael Márquez has been sanctioned by the US treasury department for allegedly being a “front person” for a drug-trafficking cartel.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 4 – The closed shop system in the United States which prevents promotion and relegation has long been a source of controversy, but usually only outside the country where traditional fans are bemused by a practise that differs totally from the rest of the world.
August 3 – After almost four years in the making, David Beckham’s dream of heading a new MLS team in Miami has moved a vital step closer to reality.
July 24 – The US squad changes after the group stages of the CONCACAF Gold Cup bore fruit at the weekend with the host country beating Costa Rica 2-0 to qualify for the final. In contrast, Mexico, who left a number of big names off their roster, crashed 1-0 in their semi-final against Jamaica.
July 24 – El Salvador defender Henry Romero has received a six-game ban after biting USA striker Jozy Altidore during their Gold Cup quarter-final.
July 20 – Robert Kraft (pictured), owner of Super Bowl champions New England Patriots but, more significantly, a key player in the growth of soccer in the United States, has been named honorary chairman of the board for the joint 2026 World Cup bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States.
July 20 – Honduras will host the second CONCACAF Futsal Club Championship this August 21-26.
July 19 – Tonight the fifth edition of the International Champions Cup (ICC) kicks off in Detroit, USA, with Roma playing Paris St Germain. Tomorrow Manchester City and United replicate their local derby in Houston. The ICC may lack more than a little sporting integrity but it does deliver the biggest club names.
By Paul Nicholson
July 18 – Trinidad and Tobago FA president David John-Williams who two weeks caught the ire of his members at the federation’s extra ordinary general meeting, this week could be facing a $600,000 plus lawsuit for failing to pay the Italian coaches of its women’s team.
July 17 – The 12-team Gold Cup tournament has reached the quarter final stage with three power nations of the CONCACAF region – Costa Rica, Mexico and the US – all avoiding each other in the first round of knock-out games.
July 14 – North, Central America and Caribbean confederation has opened a second regional office in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This follows the opening of a regional office in Kingston, Jamaica in May.
By Paul Nicholson
July 14 – French Guiana has been ruled to forfeit its last Gold Cup group game to Honduras for playing former French international Florent Malouda. The 3-0 forfeit (the match itself was a 0-0 draw) puts Honduras firmly back into contention for qualification to the next round of the competition.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – Love him or loathe him, no-one can deny Chuck Blazer his legendary place in the annals of football politics. The burly American, whose admissions of guilt set off the corruption scandal that heaped disgrace on FIFA, has died aged 72 after battling cancer and other illnesses, bringing to an end one the most colourful and controversial careers in the history of the sport.